Gmail gets shot in the arm to fight snooping

By Agencies |Posted 22-Mar-2014

Google gives its email service provider a major security boost to quell any attempts of spy snooping

London: Google has given its Gmail service a major security overhaul to prevent spy agencies snooping on users — even boosting security on its own networks. “Every single email you send or receive — 100 per cent of them — is encrypted while moving internally,” the firm claimed.

“This ensures that your messages are safe not only when they move between you and Gmail servers, but also when they move between Google’s data centres — something we made a top priority after last summer’s revelations.”

Gmail now uses an encrypted HTTPS connection when you check or send email. Though it has offered HTTPS support since the day it launched, and Google turned the feature on by default back in January 2010, the recent change goes a step further — it can’t be turned off.

Google promises that now ‘no one can spy on your messages as they go back and forth between Gmail’s servers.’ The company had initially denied that the US government had access to its servers, but as more and more details leaked, it became clear that the NSA had multiple initiatives to collect user data from Google and other technology firms.

“Your email is important to you, and making sure it stays safe and always available is important to us,” said Google. “As you go about your day reading, writing and checking messages, there are tons of security measures running behind the scenes to keep your email safe, secure, and there whenever you need it.

Today’s change means that no matter even if you’re using public WiFi or logging in from your computer, phone or tablet, no one can read your messages.”